Indonesian Journal of Instruction
Vol. 6 No. 2 (2025): May

Traditional Games and Body Mass Index in Improving Children's Motor Skills: A Systematic Literature Review

Luh Riani (Pendidikan Olahraga, Universitas Pendidikan Ganesha, Singaraja, Indonesia)
Kadek Yogi Parta Lesmana (Pendidikan Olahraga, Universitas Pendidikan Ganesha, Singaraja, Indonesia)
I Ketut Semarayasa (Pendidikan Olahraga, Universitas Pendidikan Ganesha, Singaraja, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
25 May 2025

Abstract

Motoric skills and physical activity are fundamental elements in the holistic development of children. However, the decline in motor capacity and the increasing prevalence of obesity have become significant challenges during early childhood development. This condition is exacerbated by low levels of physical activity, largely influenced by the dominance of gadget use and a sedentary lifestyle among children. This study aims to analyze and synthesize empirical evidence regarding the influence of traditional games and body mass index on the enhancement of children’s motor abilities. The study adopts a systematic review design guided by the PRISMA 2020 protocol, employing the PICOS framework for inclusion criteria determination and the SALSA approach for literature synthesis. A total of 14 eligible scientific articles were qualitatively analyzed. Data were obtained through systematic searches across several international scientific databases using the keywords “traditional games,” “body mass index,” and “children’s motor skills.” Data analysis involved examining patterns across studies and identifying inter-variable relationships. The synthesis results reveal that traditional games contribute significantly to the improvement of children’s gross and fine motor skills, while a high body mass index shows a negative correlation with motor proficiency. These findings highlight the urgency of integrating traditional games into physical education activities, alongside continuous monitoring of children’s nutritional status. The study’s implications emphasize the importance of synergy among educators, parents, and health professionals in optimizing children’s motor development through a collaborative, multidisciplinary, and sustainability-oriented approach.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

IJI

Publisher

Subject

Social Sciences

Description

Indonesian Journal of Instruction (IJI) is an internationally recognized journal in the field of education and is published four times a year (in January, mei september). The aim of this journal is to publish high quality studies in the areas of instruction, learning, teaching, curriculum ...